Michael Skakun

Michael Skakun is a writer, journalist, translator, memoirist, and public affairs specialist whose work focuses on history, memory, and moral inquiry. Skakun studied with Alfred Kazin, the literary critic and author of "A Walker in the City," and served as editor and columnist for various metropolitan weeklies. As a public affairs specialist, he has worked for National UJA, Israel Bonds, the Congress for Jewish Culture, and several nonprofit organizations and Jewish institutions. As a special consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Skakun prepared literary and educational materials for National Remembrance Week, observed in all 50 states.

Skakun is known as the author of "On Burning Ground: A Son's Memoir" (St. Martin's Press), which chronicles the wartime survival of his father, Joseph Skakun. Fleeing violence in his Polish hometown of Novogrudek, Joseph Skakun assumed a series of false identities—as a Christian, then as a Muslim, and finally as a recruit of the Nazi SS—to survive under extreme circumstances. After the war, Joseph shared his experiences with his son, who wrote a narrative that explores the horror of his father's ordeal and the resourcefulness that enabled him to endure. The memoir weaves philosophical reflections into the account of war and bloodshed, examining fear, identity, and the relationship between oppressor and victim.

"On Burning Ground" received critical attention, including a starred and lead review in Publishers Weekly, which noted its writing and moral complexity. The Washington Post described the story as "The Story of a Holocaust Houdini." In the "Oprah" reissue of "Night," Elie Wiesel selected "On Burning Ground" as one of five recommended books for advanced reading about the Holocaust, alongside "The Pianist" and "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich." The book has been endorsed by figures such as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, playwright Arthur Miller, and British philanthropist Lord Jacob Rothschild. A French edition, "Vivre et C'est Tout" (Edition Laffont, Paris), was introduced by novelist and activist Marek Halter and received positive reviews in Le Figaro and other Parisian publications.

Skakun has lectured on the Holocaust, Jewish heritage, and human resilience at institutions including Harvard University, Cornell University, Princeton Club, Columbia Club, Stern College, the National Arts Club in New York, the Museum of Jewish Heritage at Battery Park, the Anti-Defamation League, and numerous Holocaust centers and synagogues. He founded The Joseph Skakun Project, a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to Holocaust education and promoting human solidarity and tolerance through programs in education, the performing arts, and interfaith dialogue. A feature film based on the story of "On Burning Ground" has also been developed.